Astronomers have discovered three possible “super-Earth” exoplanets orbiting a relatively nearby orange dwarf star.
The exoplanets orbit the star HD 48498, located approximately 55 light years from Earth. These planets orbit their host star in 7, 38, and 151 Earth days, respectively.
According to the findings of a team led by Dr. Shweta Dalal of the University of Exeter, it is worth noting that the outermost exoplanet candidate resides in the habitable zone of its host star, where conditions could allow the existence of unboiled liquid water. nor freeze. This region, often called the ‘Goldilocks’ zone, is considered ideal for potentially supporting life.
The researchers highlight the importance of this discovery, noting that this orange star is somewhat similar to our sun and represents the closest planetary system hosting a super-Earth in the habitable zone around a Sun-like star.
The study detailing these findings was published in the journal MNRAS (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society).
Dr Dalal said in a statement: “The discovery of this super-Earth in the habitable zone around an orange star is an exciting step forward in our quest to find habitable planets around solar-type stars.”
These possible super-Earths, planets with a mass greater than Earth’s but significantly less than the solar system’s ice giants Uranus and Neptune, were identified through the HARPS-N Rocky Planet Search program. Over a decade, the team collected nearly 190 high-precision radial velocity measurements using the HARPS-N spectrograph.
Radial velocity measurements, which track the subtle motions of the star caused by orbiting planets, are crucial in such discoveries. By analyzing the star’s light spectrum, researchers can determine whether it is moving toward us (blueshift) or away from us (redshift). To ensure the accuracy of their findings, the team employed various methodologies and comparative analyses.
The research revealed three planetary candidates with minimum masses ranging from 5 to 11 times that of Earth. The team suggests that the proximity of the star, combined with the favorable orbit of the outermost planet, makes this system a promising target for future high-resolution spectroscopic and high-contrast direct imaging studies.
Dr Dalal added: “This discovery highlights the importance of long-term monitoring and advanced techniques to unlock the secrets of distant star systems. We are eager to continue our observations and search for additional planets in the system.”
